Art Gallery of Alberta
Expertly merging expressive architectural form with precision structural engineering, the reimagined Art Gallery of Alberta offers exhibition galleries, educational spaces, a theatre, and public amenities.
DeSimone provided structural design for the 85,000 SF facility’s transformation, which replaced much of the original Brutalist-style structure while seamlessly integrating an existing concrete stair core into the new composition.
| Client | Art Gallery of Alberta |
|---|---|
| Architect: | Randall Stout Architects |
| Size | 3 Stories | 85,000 SF (7,900 SM) |
| Sustainability | LEED Silver |
| Office: | New York |
| Completion: | 2010 |
One of the project’s defining challenges was realizing the architect’s signature design element—a 623-foot-long, curvilinear stainless-steel ribbon that twists and folds across the façade and roof, functioning as a building canopy and envelope system. Our hybrid structural solution combines conventional steel framing with carefully situated curved supports that hold this feature in place, while maintaining visual continuity and stability.
Our structural team also addressed the conditions and impact brought on by Edmonton’s harsh winters, fully accounting for snow loads and expanding and contracting materials in the structure’s complex geometry.
